Major

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Graduation

Spring 2017

Abstract

The goal of this disquisition is to delineate the development of a material and casing suitable for flexible lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Development of these cells is driven by increasing interest in portable and flexible electronics. The goal is to implement them into items such as smart cards, wearable electronics, novelty packages, flexible displays, and transdermal drug delivery patches. To accomplish this task, a number of individual cathode compounds were explored that used different compositions of lithium cobalt oxide and other compounds. These cells were tested in a generic and easily manufacturable cell casing. After the catholyte compound testing was completed the best compounds were cycled numerous times to determine the degradation of the cells energy capacity. From our testing, it was determined that the best composition in terms of achieving the closet to theoretical capacity consistent of:

Lithium oxide

Conductive additive

Lithium salt electrolyte

However, after cycling this composition, severe degradation of its energy capacity was observed after only twelve cycles, with complete loss of capacity occurring at only 30 cycles. Thus, we concluded that the concept of the flexible material tested does have merit; however, in future work, the severe degradation issue must be addressed.

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